Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-11-17
LIFE ON THE FARM.

The Proper Location of Residences, Out
Buildings and Orchards.
The dwelling should be made sub
stantial, comfortable, convenient and
attractive. The surroundings should
be made with a view to pIeasantness,
comfort and beauty. Suitable shade
trees at distance of about one hun
bred feet from the dwelling, should be
provided in great abundance, not only
to serve as shade from the heat of
the sun, but as "A protection from
winds. especially the northwest winds
in winter.
a good garden, where all the vege-
tables and small fruit should be grown.
to supply the family plentifully the
year round.
The barns and all out-buildings
should occupy position in the black
ground" and never in front of the
dwelling-hOuse.
The orchard should occupy the most
suitable portion of the farm. and if the
ground is not naturally we'll drained
it should be drained by underground
tile drain, which should be placed from
three TO five feet deep and should be
drainage in wet time. The orchard
should be made up of all the varieties
of fruit trees that are suited to the cli-
mate.
The failing condition of the orchards
generally speaks out against the pre-
vailing system, among nursery men, of
growing trees too close together Usu-
ally they are grown SO close to each
other that the limbs must he cut off to
give room to a spoiled and worse than
worthless trunk. If trees can not be
had that are grown at least four feet
apart, then take seed from large, fine
fruit and grow them in proper
manner; never cutting off a limb
but taking off the buds instead. And
when these bear fruit some will bear
good fruit while those that do not bear
good fruit can be grated with any de-
sired varieties, and so healthy trees
are obtained that will make Il profita-
BILE and lasting orchard. :
Fruit trees should be planted along
the roadside by every farmer, each
planting along his own land. This
would afford pleasant shade to weary
travellers, and an abundance of fruit
for the birds. which are great bless
ing to the farmers. and would be the.
greatest blessing to the little boys and.
girls in the cities and towns, who are
starved for the want of plentiful sup
ply of wholesome and life-giving fruits,
that kind and benevolent Father has
created for the use of all. The fact
that children are always wild for =.
fruit, shows clearly that nature has or
dained it for their use, and that its free
use by them would be great blessing. .
Who can tell but if this course were
pursued throughout the entire country,
that it would have a telling moral eff
feet upon the rising generation? Who
knows but if the young boys of the
towns and cities were provided with an
abundance of fruit of all the various
kinds which could be grown along the
roadside, that there would be less
crime. less taxes to pay for prosecu-
tions, convictions and punishments
which the law now metes out to trans
gressors who are made bad by their
Who has not heard the
pitiful voice of the little boys in the
towns calling out to apple vendors
passing along the streets: mister.
give me an appler' The expense of
producing fruit in this way would be
but a trif1e to each farmer, while the
blessings resulting would be inconceiv-
ably great and lasting.-E. s. Teaq0r-
ocz, in Western PY0s0nnS1-